Genuinely Appreciated

I got to participate in some more challenges this week.  This time I piggy-backed a few different challenges for the following card that will be a thank you card for a new crafty friend.

I started with this week's Color Challenge PLUS over at H2H to use Amethyst and Crystal Blue and glitter.  It's hard to tell in the pics, but I mixed Prisma Glitter with Clear Embossing Powder and heat embossed the Dimensional Element Snowflake.  Then I took my Embossing Pen and traced the words Thank You and embossed them with the powder/glitter mixture as well.  The stamped image was inked in Amethyst and rolled in Crystal Blue.  

I liked last week's challenge (to use a never been used stamp set) so much that I decided to use it again, and I would like to continue using it throughout the year!  I have used some of the other stamps in this set but not this particular one until now.  It's one of the stamp sets that comes in the CTMH Art Philosophy Cricut Collection so I cut the coordinating tag from my Cricut. 

Then I was looking for inspiration for my card pattern so I turned to Unscripted Sketches and chose their most recent Sketch Challenge #141.

I didn't use any patterned papers on this card, just some of CTMH's retired Textured Cardstock that I sanded, along with an Amethyst spiral clip.  This card features a sneak peek at a new product featured in the upcoming Spring/Summer 2012 Close To My Heart Idea Book.  It's the new Color-Ready Ribbon featured on page 30 - I love that I can make it any color I need!  I used a Sponge Dauber and my Crystal Blue ink pad to color it.  It was still pretty fresh when I took the picture of my card so I'm not sure if it will lighten or not, but I'm excited to play with this ribbon some more!

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I hope you like it - thanks for stopping by and enjoy your day!

A little something new!

The newest Idea Book from Close To My Heart went live on August 1st - you can click HERE to view it online, or contact me to see how you can get your own free copy!  There are some fabulous new products, and I've had a chance to play with a few.  I am linking up to Tresa (from Fabulously Artsy) and her New Product Blog Hop - you must check out what everyone else has been creating with their new goodies!

As for me, I created a few cards for my upcoming Open House - everyone who comes will get to make one of the following cards for my free Make & Take.  All three of these cards use the Gallery pattern from Wishes, but by changing up the papers and stamps used and rotating the pattern, I get three completely different looks!

I used the new Art Philosophy Collection - CTMH has teamed up with Provo Craft and we now have our own exclusive Cricut cartridge!  This collection comes with a cartridge, 3 D-sized stamp sets (valued at $17.95 each), and 3 sets of Dimensional Elements.  I technically didn't use the cartridge yet as my machine (that I'm getting for my birthday this month) won't get here until Friday, but I hand cut what the machine would actually cut, just to get the idea.

This was the first card that I made - and it's my favorite.  I used the new Typeset papers (LOVE the new labeling strip at the top of each paper - I used the back for the alphabet border strip on this card), new Milepost Shapes, along with some older favorites, a Black Bitty Brad, Colonial White button tied with a bit of Black Waxy Flax, and Kraft Border.  I also used one of the images from the Art Philosophy stamp set called Tags.

This was the next card I created - I used the new Believe papers, a fun new Bling Button, and images from the Art Philosophy stamp set called Seasons.

The last card I created uses the new Wonderland papers.  I tried to use an image from the Art Philosophy Celebration stamp set, but I don't think the images got cut deep enough and I was having ink issues so I contacted CTMH and I am in the process of sending it in for a replacement.  I was carefully able to stamp the sentiment from that stamp set, but the flower came from the Seasons stamp set that I used on the last card.  I also used some Clear Sparkles and Spray Pen on this card.

I had fun playing with a few new goodies - I can't wait to get my Cricut and really play with the new cartridge - it looks like fun!

Thanks for visiting!